Top 10 Iconic Skill Moves in Sports

Sometimes called a blind pass, this move is pretty straightforward – essentially, the player makes a pass to someone on their team without looking at them. When performed correctly, this pass is nearly impossible for the defense to stop, because the player does not give away his or her intentions with their eyes, and could conceivably pass to anyone on the court or ice. While these passes are risky, because the player can’t be sure that the pass will be completed, they make for excellent highlight clips regardless of which sport it’s performed in.

Hockey has a plethora of skill moves to choose from, and a separate Top 10 list could be dedicated to the sport alone. One of the more common moves is known as the toe drag, where the plug uses the toe of the stick blade to drag the puck around a defender, but we’ve chosen the lacrosse move for this list. Also known as the “Michigan” or the “high wrap,” the move involved the player scooping the puck and lifting it from the ice before firing it towards the top corner of the net. This move is rarely seen during actual gameplay, although Sidney Crosby used it to score during a QMJHL game when he was just 16-years-old.

One of the most popular moves used by attacking players, the step over is a dribbling move used by a player who is attempting to get around a defender. The attacking player makes it appear as though he is moving in one direction before quickly going the other way. It was allegedly invented by Dutch player Law Adam back in the early 20th century, but it wasn’t until the 1990s that the move became globally popular thanks to the Brazilian superstar Ronaldo.

Similar to the step over, this move allows the attacking player to make it seem like they will be moving in one direction before quickly reversing and moving the other way. For example, the player may dribble the ball in their left hand and make a step to the left before quickly switching the ball to their right hand and moving in that direction. While there are many variations to the move, the most popular type has to be the ankle-breaking crossover, where the move causes the defender to fall over.

You know you’ve done something right when you have a skill move named after you. Peter Forsberg pulled this move out while playing for Sweden during the Gold Medal game against Canada in the 1994 Winter Olympics. With the game tied and gone to a shootout, Forsberg came down the ice and made a move to the right before pulling the puck back in the other direction with one hand and sliding itin the open side – a move inspired by fellow Swedish player Kent Nilsson. The goal won Sweden the gold medal and even found its way on to a Swedish postage stamp. Today, whenever another player attempts the same move, the commentators often reference that famous goal.

It seems like you’ll see an impressive one-handed catch every week during the NFL season, but that doesn’t make this feat any less impressive. Recently, there have been some ridiculous one-handed catches in the NFL, including Odell Beckham Jr.’s absolutely insane catch against the Dallas Cowboys in 2014, where he essentially caught the ball using just his fingertips. With receivers making more and more extraordinary catches every week, it’s proof that sometimes all the quarterback needs to do is throw the ball up for grabs.

Another move associated with an individual player, curling or bending the ball wasn’t invented by David Beckham, but it’s hard to argue that he wasn’t one of the best to ever do it. This skill is often used while taking a free kick, and involves using the inside of the foot to create spin to make the ball curve. This fools the goalkeeper into thinking the ball is heading in one direction, and also helps get the ball around the wall of defenders.

The spin-o-rama was such an effective move in the shootout that the NHL actually banned it in 2014. Lucky for us, hockey players are so skilled that they can still execute it during regular play. Essentially the player acts like they are going one direction before suddenly stopping and spinning in the opposite direction, leaving the defender or goalie completely out of position, all the while keeping the puck on their stick. They can then either make a pass to another player or, more commonly, put the puck in the empty net.

The slam-dunk is the most efficient basketball shot and often draws a crowd to its feet, especially with all the different variations of the maneuver; but we have elected to go with the alley-oop for our list. The alley-oop ends with a slam-dunk but requires a pass beforehand. This play is so impressive because it requires two players to be on the same page, as the passer needs to put the ball in the right location while the player receiving the pass has to time their jump just right and then slam the ball into the net.

Before we unveil our number one pick, here are a few honorable mentions:
- Behind-the-Back Shot
Lacrosse

- Cruijff Turn [aka Cruyff Turn]
Football

- Double Touch Spin
Football

Sometimes called a scissors kick or an overhead kick, this move is accomplished by throwing your body backwards into the air and striking the airborne ball above your head, kicking it in the opposite direction. This maneuver can be used to clear the ball away from a player’s own goal or to strike the ball while attempting to score. Because of the move’s high degree of difficulty, it is rarely seen during competitive play, but when a player is able to pull it off, you can bet you’ll be seeing it on highlight films for years.

Do you agree with our list? What is your favorite skill move? For more great Top 10s published daily, be sure to subscribe to WatchMojo.com.